AARP, Sony Pictures Classics and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Team Up to Support Family Caregivers and Alzheimer's Awareness with National AARP I Heart Caregivers Screening Program of Academy Award®-Winning STILL ALICE, Arriving on Blu-ray™ May 12th

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To celebrate the release of STILL ALICE on Blu-ray^™ and DVD May 12, Sony Pictures Classics and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment are collaborating with AARP Movies for Grownups^® for a nationwide series of screenings to support the I Heart Caregivers initiative. The Academy Award^®-winning STILL ALICE (Best Actress, Julianne Moore, 2014) follows a linguistics professor (Moore) diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, and portrays how her family (Alec Baldwin, Kristin Stewart) approaches caregiving to help her through her struggle. The Blu-ray^™ includes the featurette "Finding Alice," which explores how the filmmakers and cast created an accurate portrayal of the disease. The featurette also introduces Sandy Oltz, a woman living with early-onset Alzheimer's, who served as a consultant and advisor to Julianne Moore.

AARP's I Heart Caregivers initiative raises the voices of family caregivers, recognizing and supporting the 42 million Americans who help older parents, spouses and others live independently—including those who struggle with Alzheimer's and other health conditions. The STILL ALICE screening series will launch in New York and Los Angeles in May and continue across the country through June. 

"Still Alice portrays a poignant story about living and caring for someone with Alzheimer's," said Myrna Blyth, AARP Senior Vice President and Editorial Director. "This collaboration with Sony Pictures Classics and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment presents a tremendous opportunity to not only share this powerful story but to give voice to the millions of family caregivers across America, and share valuable information and resources with them."

"After working closely on the development of 'Still Alice,' the Alzheimer's Association is so proud to see the that film struck a chord with so many, as Julianne Moore's Oscar winning portrayal of 'Alice' highlights the difficult experience people with the disease and their family members face," said Angela Geiger, Chief Strategy Officer, Alzheimer's Association.  "Our hope is that as more people see 'Still Alice' through AARP Movies For Grown-ups they will be inspired to be a voice and advocate for Alzheimer's disease resources, or seek resources, should they be facing the disease personally."

Each screening will be preceded by a presentation about AARP's I Heart Caregivers initiative—including the opportunity for family caregivers to share their stories—and many will be followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A, highlighting information and resources for caregivers available through AARP, as well as state advocacy initiatives. To learn more, visit aarp.org/iheartcaregivers.

Screenings are scheduled in the following cities:

Synopsis:
Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, Alice and her family find their bonds thoroughly tested. Her struggle to stay connected to who she once was is frightening, heartbreaking, and inspiring.

Based on the novel of the same name by Lisa Genova, STILL ALICE was directed and written by Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland. The film was executive produced by Maria Shriver, Marie Savare, Christine Vachon, Emilie Georges, Nicholas Shumaker, Celine Rattray, Trudie Styler. Lex Lutzus, James Brown, Pamela Koffler served as producers, and Elizabeth Gelfand Stearns served as co-producer.

Movies for Grownups®, which now includes weekly reviews, an award-winning radio program, an annual film festival, and year-round coverage in AARP The Magazine and online, was started in 2002 by the editors of AARP The Magazine. Additional information can be found online at www.aarp.org/movies.

Academy Award^® is the registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

About AARP The Magazine
With more than 35.2 million readers, AARP The Magazine is the world's largest circulation magazine and the definitive lifestyle publication for Americans 50+. AARP The Magazine delivers comprehensive content through health and fitness features, financial guidance, consumer interest information and tips, celebrity interviews, and book and movie reviews. AARP The Magazine was founded in 1958 and is published bimonthly in print and continually online. Learn more at www.aarpmagazine.org.

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services.  A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates.  The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

About Sony Pictures Classics
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world.\

Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 32 Academy Awards^® (28 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 158 Academy Award^® nominations (132 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.

About Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) company.  Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.

About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. It is the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research. The Association's mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Its vision is a world without Alzheimer's. Visit alz.org (http://www.alz.org/) or call 800.272.3900.

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SOURCE AARP

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